David G. Dye Appointed Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for Mine Safety and Health

WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao announced today that deputy assistant secretary David G. Dye will be the acting assistant secretary of labor for mine safety and health effective Nov. 20, 2004.

"David is a seasoned leader who will ensure that MSHA continues to put the safety and well-being of our nation's miners first," said Chao. "We look forward to working with him during this transition period to build upon this Administration's strong safety record, which includes the lowest number of industry fatalities and injuries-and the highest number of proactive safety initiatives-in years."

The Mine Safety and Health Administration's (MSHA) mission is to protect the health and safety of America's miners. The agency develops and distributes mandatory safety and health standards, ensures compliance with such standards, assesses civil penalties for violations, and investigates accidents.

Dye came to the U.S. Department of Labor in June 2001, where he served as deputy assistant secretary for the Employment and Training Administration. He later served at MSHA as its deputy assistant secretary for policy beginning in May 2004.

Previously, he worked in separate assignments as chief counsel to the House Resources Committee, the House Agriculture Committee, and the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Before that, Dye served as counsel to the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. Later, he worked as director of external affairs for the U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration and as counsel to the chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission.

Before coming to Washington, Dye served as the professional staff to two committees of the Alaska Senate-as special assistant to Alaska's lieutenant governor and as a regional and urban planner with the Alaska Department of Community and Regional Affairs.

Dye received his bachelor of arts degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1970. He graduated from the Franklin Pierce Law Center in Concord, N.H., in 1979.